SPORTING
IN MONTANA
Jamison’s Season’s Hunt in the Judith Country
It was some weeks since reported that Mr. J. A. Jamison, the Irish
tourist and sportsman, had concluded his season’s hunt and taken his
departure for the Pacific Coast. This was a mistake growing out of the circumstance
of the delivery here and expressage at the time of many trophies of the
chase. Mr. Jamison and his cousin, Mr. J. A. Haig, of Fifeshire,
Scotland, who joined the field camp in July last, have just arrived back
from t he scene of their hunting exploits and the two gentlemen are tarrying
a few days with their Helena friends. An account of the several months’
sport, condensed in very brief form, will show something of its attendant
success. Mr. Jamison’s party, composed of himself, body servant, and
the trusty frontiersmen Elwell and Fisher, who had similarly served
him before, took to the field on the 12th of June. The first camp was established
on the Judith river near its source and within a few miles of the recent
new gold discoveries. Here a stop of six weeks was made. Subsequently camps
were established on Cottonwood, Flat Willow and other creeks further east
and more remote from the intrusion of the aggressive explorer and settler.
Game everywhere was abundant. Rifle practice never flagged for want of something
royal to shoot at. Buffalo, elk, bear, deer, antelope, mountain lion, lynx,
wild-cat, not to speak of smaller game, are numbered in the list of the
grand ‘catch’. In the trophy exhibit are magnificent sets of elk
and deer antlers, buffalo heads, bear and other robes. In bear alone twenty-eight
animals were killed, most of them grizzlies. The largest of these was a
monster estimated to weigh 1,200 pounds. The robe, neatly preserved, measures
eight feet three inches from nose to rump. Other measurements of the beast
when slain showed thirty-nine inches around the head below the ears and
thirty-three inch girth of forearm. This animal Mr. Jamison’s rifle
brought down at or near the head of Big Spring Creek. Mr. Haig, a young
graduate of Trinity College, appears to have likewise shown himself a resolute
hunter and a clever shot, having a fine collection of game regalia to prove
it. Indians during most of the season have been numerous in the Judith country,
but the hunters’ camps were never molested. Mr. Jamison expects to
leave Wednesday for California, and will sail from there some time in December
for a tour through Japan and parts of China. Mr. Haig goes also as far as
San Francisco, and after some weeks spent in the Golden State, turns back
across the continent and from New York will sail for Scotland.
AT WICKES
Our readers have all heard of Wickes. Few of them, comparatively, have
been there. We travel eighteen miles south to Jefferson City and four
miles west of that place to get there. The road is hard and smooth, and
undulating enough to bring into play different sets of your horses’
muscles, and a good team bowles easily along at an eight mile pace. The
diverging route from the Prickly Pear at Jefferson leads into a narrow
valley, down which speeds a clear, cold stream from its mountain source.
On either hand rise smoothly sloped hills, clothed to their tops in the
autumn-browned vesture of succulent bunch grass. At the head of the valley,
or where it parts by prongs, is the town of Wickes. It has a tall environment,
below which it has tucked itself away cosily. There are offices and cottages
and cabins and shops, with occupants for each and all of them. These are
the outgrowth of the enterprise of the Alta Montana Company, whose vast
silver reduction works are reared in the midst and are the chief feature
of the town. It is particularly to examine these works that our visit
is made here. The buildings cover an acre’s space, the main ones
rising to four and six floors. We have no room here to describe the various
and costly machinery they contain. We remark simply that all the appliances
have been placed in these works to manipulate and treat silver ores by
every process heretofore practically adopted or now in successful use.
Under cover of contiguous roofs is apparently every contrivance for milling,
concentrating, roasting, bleaching, and smelting. Months have been spent
in altering, enlarging and adding to this silver-working caravansary,
at an expense of many thousands of dollars. It is very hive of industry,
and busy hands in every direction are pushing to the close their tasks
in the comoon hurry to get the work in operation.
OUTSIDE THE WORKS PROSPER
We recover ourself and promise not to venture a silver reduction process
description a second time. We take a view outside the reduction works
proper. A little way off is an immense depot for the storage of reserve
supplies of charcoal. A yard and kiln shows where hundreds of thousands
of bricks have been manufactured. Here, too, are piles of clay and other
ingredients for fire brick, and a machine at work pressing the mixed materials
into shape for burning. Long racks of cordwood are on hand, seasoned for
winter’s use. Teams are hourly arriving and adding their loads to
the accumulation of ore. There is idleness in no direction. No drinking
or intoxication is seen. In place of saloons, which are strictly interdicted,
is a commodious reading-room, handsomely furnished and lighted, with supplies
of newspapers, pictorials and magazines. Here, after the day’s work,
the employees assemble and pleasantly and profitably spend the evening.
Of a Sunday religious services are held, the reading-room becoming a church.
Rev. Mr. Wickes, nephew of W. W. Wickes, a young man of
brilliant mind, is the worthy and excellent pastor. He has his good wife
and bright little ones with him, sheltered in a neat cottage erected for
their use. It struck us as a specially happy family circle we met at the
lunch table in that cozy mountain home.
SILVER MINES:
The Colorado District - Alta, North Pacific, Gregory, Minnesota, Banner,
David Copperfield, Rocky Bar and others of less note
The Boulder District - Comet, Rumley, Belle of the Boulder, Mollie McGregor
and others
The Hot Springs District - Amazon, Dan Tucker, Legal Tender, Bonanza
The Ten Mile region - Vaughan’s Little Jennie, Nellie Grant, Russell
ROSTER OF OFFICERS AND EXPERTS
In personal charge and directing the vast business of the Alta Montana
Company is W. W. Wickes, Esq., President and Resident Managing Director.
Under him and at the head of special and distinct divisions of work are
the following named gentlemen:
Superintendent - Mr. Cole Saunders
General Foreman of Works - Chas. Starritt
Metallurgist - Dr. Ernest de Grenier
Amalgamator - Charles E. Stevens
Smelter - J. R. Green
Foreman of Mines - Lyman Rowley
LETTER FROM BENTON
Growth of the Town - Present and Future of the County - Railroad and River
Speculations - Local Items
Benton, M. T. , November 10, 1879
Benton is fast assuming such size as to have attracted no little attention,
not to mention envy, from other and larger places in the Territory, and
it would seem but fair that the press of the country should give due space
to news from Choteau and its vicinity. A trip over the country is all
that is needed to convince one of the solid foundation Benton is building
upon, while the unsurpassed beauty and value of the lands foretell their
early and general settlement. Thousand of head of cattle are ranging over
the county, and already sheep ranches are to be found in many of the most
desirable locations. The fact that these cattle look so well and are so
thrifty without a pound of hay beiing put up for them during the winter,
is of itself a guaranty that before five years the capital invested in
the business will be enormous. Again, the immigration during the past
months must be the precursor of a proportional increase next spring, aside
from the natural tide of people emigrating hither from the over-crowded
East. There can be no disputing one fact, that as the railroads draw nearer
to Montana and make her less inaccessible to those whose means are limited,
just so much the more rapidly will her population increase and so much
more wide-spread will her advantages appear. Montana seems in a fair way
to be able to compete with rail traffic by means of her river system,
which will continue to land goods at low rates at central points for inland
distribution. Benton is a natural entrepot, the receiving point for most
of the freight for Northern Montana. It holds the same position in its
tributary that St. Paul, Minn., does to that section. The product of this
county and Meagher and Lewis and Clarke, in the way of wool, will naturally
find their outlet via Benton and the Missouri river, as must also the
beef that is shipped. The argument that the longer railroads can be kept
out the better it is, I believe, short-sighted. It may to some appear
wise policy, perhaps, not to encourage them, but let one enter Benton
or Helena next year and the vast increase in people would bring money,
and our counties would prosper accordingly.-We have had several little
fights of late in the town, but nothing very serious.
-Strangers continue to arrive, and the hotels are over full.All the business
men are hard at work. I. G. Baker & Co are moving into their
new brick store, which is a great credit to the firm and town. The troops
of the Third
Infantry will move into Baker’s old quarters in a day or so.
-Col. J. J. Donnelly has just returned from his survey to establish
the line between Choteau and Meagher counties. Starting at the mouth of
Deep creek the boundary runs east to a point near the mouth of the Muscleshell.
The survey throws a number of ranchmen into the adjoining county that
wish to be in Choteau, and it is not improbable that a mutual agreement
will be made so as to concede certain portions each to insure satisfaction.
-Fires are doing great damage in the Belt creek region
-Miners from Yogo gulch report everything quiet for the winter. ‘Look
out for a stampede next spring,’ I overheard one say recently, and
I expect he predicts correctly. Let us hope so at least.
PILGRIM
GALLATIN COUNTY ITEMS
(Avant COURIER, 13th, inst)
-On Thursday last Mr. Wm. Erskin, proprietor of Erskin’s bridge
across the West Gallatin, sustained a dislocation of one of his shoulders,
by his horse stumbling and throwing him
-Al. O. Brawner, who the greater part of his life has lived in
the Far West, and who for a number of years has worked at the blacksmith
trade in Bozeman, left last week for Plattsburg, Mo., to visit his mother
and other relatives at that place
-Three head of blooded short-horn bulls, property of Buford Farris,
sold at public auction on Tuesday last for about $700. G. F. Cope,
who had advertised to sell his stock at the same time, disposed of them
at private sale to Martin and Myers for about $2,000. Martin &
Myers were the fortunate purchasers also of the Farris stock.
-The Grand Jury failed to find a ‘true bill’ against Sim.
B. Roberts in the Keeney-Roberts shooting scrape, and he was
discharged yesterday by order of the court. Mr. Roberts leaves town to-day
for Martinsdale, in the Muscleshell Valley, with some cattle for the Montana
Cattle Company. He expects to visit town again on or about Christmas.
DEER LODGE ITEMS
(Northwest, 13th inst)
-On Friday morning of last week I. B. Porter appeared as attorney
under authority of J. H. Shankland, Attorney of the Board of Trade,
San Francisco, and retaining Hiram Knowles attached the property
and book accounts of Mr. Chas. Blum at Deer Lodge and Butte for
the following San Francisco accounts ..... Sheriff McAndrews took
possession under attachment and now has a force of clerks taking an Inventory.
We understand Sands Bros. propose to replevin the stock as soon
as the inventory is completed. Mr. Blum has enormous stocks of goods,
the estimated value of his property being ully $90,000. Should the above
be all the bills our creditors should not lose anything.
-Mr. Con Kohrs returned from the East on Saturday. He and Mich
Oxarart drove 1,700 head of cattle to Fort Fetterman, losing 70 head
of cattle on the road. Mr. Kohrs then sold his interest in them to Oxarart,
who will not market them until next year. Kohrs then took 1,000 head of
his own cattle on to Council Bluffs, where he sold them at $30 per head
to feeders. His were said to be the finest lot of cattle that have gone
over the U.P. road, but were not fat enough for beeves. Corn having suddenly
advanced about 25 per cent, feeders were scary about buying and the cattle
were sold low. Mr. Kohrs says everywhere he visited the evidence of better
times are manifest and the whole country is booming.
LOCAL NEWS
From the DAILY HERALD of November 17
SUICIDE
At about 12 o’clock to-day a man went into the Washington Brewery,
who had previously stepped into the cellar below, and he was found to
be under the influence of poison. It was discovered from a bottle in his
pocket that he had taken strychnine, the bottle found being about half
full. Dr. Wm. L. Steele, the Coroner, was summoned as soon as possible,
but before any change could be produced by powerful antidotes, the man,
after two convulsions, was a corpse.From witnesses and from papers found
on his person it was ascertained that his name was Daniel C. Leonard,
a discharged sergeant of Company D, 23d U. S. Infantry, at Fort Vancouver.
He served in Company B, 71st New York Volunteers, during the rebellion,
and was wounded at the battle of Mine Run, Virginia, in 1863, and was
an applicant for pension. He was about 37 years of age, light complexion
and blue eyes. It was evidently a case of premeditated suicide, as might
be inferred from the following, found in his memorandum book:I am suspicioned,
but I am an honest man. I am tired, and I die with ill-will to no man.
I am not afraid of death. (Signed) D. C. Leonard
VERDICT OF THE CORONER’S JURY
An inquisition holden at Helena in the county of Lewis and Clarke, on
the 17th day of November, A.D. 1879, before me, W. L. Steele, Coroner
of said county, upon the body of Daniel C. Leonard, there lying dead,
by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed. The said jurors, upon
their oaths, do say, that he came to his death by taking a dose of strychnine,
with suicidal intent.
Chas. D. Curtis
Chas. D. Hard
H. M. Cooper
Geo. W. Bashaw
W. G. Preuitt
Geo. Weiske
DEATH OF AN OLD
MONTANIAN
(Missoulian)
The Yankee ork HERALD of the 18th of October, contains an account of the
death, by an overdose of morphine, of John H. McGrath, a man well
known to the early settlers of Montana. Mr. McGrath was one of the early
pioneers of Alder gulch, where he established one of the first boarding
houses known to the Territory. We believe he leaves a wife, who now resides
in Evanston, Utah. McGrath will be remembered as achieving considerable
notoriety in connection with the arrest at Salt Lake of Brady,
who had robbed his partner of $600 or $700. McGrath followed him to Salt
Lake, arrested him, and brought him back for trial. Brady was afterwards
hung by vigilanties.
ATTEMPT TO BURN
BENTON
The RECORD of the 14th inst relates the following:
‘A diabolical effort to burn the town of Benton was made at about
half-past eleven o’clock last night. The corner of a board kitchen
in rear of the premises occupied by Julus Davis (colored) was saturated
with coal oil and ignited. Julia, however, discovered the fire and gave
the alarm in time to have the flames extinguished before material damage
had been done. This is the second attempt made to fire the town within
the past two weeks.
A BROKEN LEG
A young man, just arrived in this country, who lent a hand to the unloading
of a freight wagon in front of Sands Bros., met with an unfortunate mishap,
a heavy box slipping from his grasp, falling upon and breaking his leg.
He was conveyed to the hospital, his limb set, and at last accounts was
making the best of his misfortune. The injured man is from Massachusetts,
but his name was not learned.
A PIECE OF DEVILTRY
Some despicable vandal, out on the night herd, at a late hour Sunday,
upset in front of Holter & Bro’s a large grindstone, weighing
800 pounds, breaking it in pieces. It was valued at $75.00. The miscreant,
it is to be hoped, will be found and properly punished.
ON THE RAMPAGE
A man named James Murray was arrested and locked up in the county
jail yesterday for drawing a huge butcher knife and threatening to kill
Col. C. D. Curtis, who at the time was engaged in conversation
with another gentleman on the corner of Broadway and Main street. Col.
Curtis says that he never saw the man before and is unable to account
for the assault. It appears that this man, Murray, while passing a lady
on Benton avenue yesterday morning was seen to draw a knife from his shirt-sleeve
and heard to say that he would kill somebody. In fact Murray was on the
rampage and threatening to annihilate the town. He will have an examination
before Judge Hedges this afternoon. The General opinion is that Murray
is insane.
CHANGE OF FIRM
Mr. T. J. Frost, of the firm of Winter, Neill & Co., lumber
dealers, has sold out his interest to Messrs. Winter and Neill. The firm
name will continue to be Winter, Neill & Co.
MEETING OF BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OF THE M.A.M. & M.A.
Last night a meeting of the directors of the Territorial Fair Association
was held at the office of Gov. Potts. John Kinna, Henry M. Parchen
and E. Beach having tendered their resignations, the following named
gentlemen were chosen to fill the vacancies. W. L. Milligan, Robert
Barnes and S. C. Gilpatrick. A committee was appointed to prepare
a premium list with instructions to report the same at a meeting of the
Directors to be held on the 1st of December.
LIST OF LETTERS
Remaining in the Post Office uncalled for at Helena, Lewis and Clarke
county, Montana, ON THE 19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1879
Bearcroft W H
Hofman Fred
Bonacind J A
Jaques George
Champlin Lester
Keller John
Clark Mrs H Edith
Keeler John
Coghlan Daniel
Diltz Jno B
Frank H 2
Martin & Lombard
Gaunt S W 2
Morrison Mrs S F
Goulding James
Rennan Michael
Heiser George
Ross Mrs Sarameah
Hermann Chas
Williams Lizzie F
S. H. CROUNSE, P.M.
PERSONAL
-Prof. Rolfe returned home from Butte yesterday
-Capt. H. Guyer, of Jefferson, was in the city to-day
-John J. Henry, of Bozeman, was in the city yesterday
-Col. DeLacey arrived home from Tongue river on Sunday
-Dr. Greenlead, Surgeon, U.S.A., Fort Shaw arrived last night accompanied
by Mrs. Greenleaf
-James King left on the overland this morning for Chicago where
he will spend the winter
-Ed. Zimmerman, who has been confined to his bed by illness for
several days past, is again up and attending to business
-Maj. Blaine, Paymaster, Maj. Robinson, Quartermaster, and
Blaine Walker arrived home from Fort Ellis last night
-D. L. McFarland, U.S. Deputy Surveyor, returned home Saturday
from the Yellowstone having completed the surveys under his contract
-Mrs. Hawkins, who has been visiting Mrs. Ashby, returned
to Benton yesterday. Mrs. Hawkins, we believe, is a sister of the Messrs.
Conrad
-Col. Wheeler, one of the best Marshals the Territory ever had,
is in Butte and will spend two or three days here looking after some valuable
lots
and mining property. (Miner)
-C. T. Rader, Sheriff and Assessor of Meagher county, arrived in
the city yesterday. He reports snow on the belt range 4 inches deep. Mr.
Rader is now busily engaged in filling his wood contract with the Government
Fort at Logan.
-Maj. Arthur, Paymaster U.S.A., who has been traveling in Europe
during the past six or eight months, is now en route to Montana and will
probably arrive in Helena by the 23d inst. Mr. Fred J. Schwabe,
his clerk, has been in the city some two months, and recently secured
an office on Upper Main St. For Major Arthur.
-Mr. J. T. Conner will leave to-morrow morning for a short visit
to Colorado. Mr. Conner has been expecting Mr. Chas. L. Wright,
of New York, President of the Rocker Company, to visit Montana; but this
morning he received a dispatch from Mr. Wright, from Denver, stating that
he had been injured in a coach accident, and requested Mr. Conner to meet
him there.
BREVITIES
-Messrs. Raleigh & Clarkes will soon establish a branch house
in Glendale.
-Chas. Donnelly died in a saloon at Deadwood recently. Cause, too
much ‘bug juice’.
-James Gordon Bennett has a daily income of $1,500 from the New
York
HERALD
-Ex-U.S. Marshal Wheeler is going to open up his mines in Butte.
Judge Warren is interested with him
-Two billiard halls have recently been sold in Helena - one for $1,800
and the other for $3,000. All of which goes to show that billiard halls
must be in demand.
-Dr. Mussigbrod captured on Monday last the man, McLaughlin,
who escaped from the Warm Spring Asylum. The Doctor took the patient back
to the Springs on Tuesday. (INDEX)
-The many friends of Mr and Mrs Kessler will be rejoiced to learn
that Mrs Kessler’s physicians to-day pronounce her very much improved,
with the chances in favor of her recovery
-John Mannheim, an old citizen of Madison county, died on the 8th
inst. His health had been failing for some years, and his death was not
entirely unexpected. Deceased leaves a widow and many warm friends to
mourn his loss.
-The young man who met with the painful accident yesterday while unloading
goods in front of Sands Bros is at the hospital and is doing as
well as could be expected under the circumstance. His name is Southard,
and came here from Lowell, Mass.
-The grand jury of Missoula county last week found indictments against
Mary A. Drouillard, Wm. McKay and John A. Fisher for the murder
of M M. Drouillard; also against John Lannon (Indian), for
highway robbery, and Gilman and Poy for stealing horses.
-Mr. C. T. Miles, who lives in Deer Lodge valley, Montana, came
over here yesterday from Cow Creek, Owyhee county, where he has 5,000
sheep which he brought up from California, and took the Kelton stage for
home this morning. He will winter his sheep on Succor creek and drive
them to Montana next summer. (IDAHO STATESMAN)
A MONSTER FLUME
The Great Mining Enterprise In Confederate Gulch
All Ready to Start Up in May, 1880
Confederate Gulch, in Meagher county, famous throughout the Territory
for the golden treasures - amounting to several millions of dollars -
which it has turned out, will next season again be heard from in its lavish
product of bright, rich gold. Some years ago Mr. James King run
a bedrock flume up Confederate, but before work had been advantageously
begun, the great flood of 1876 came sweeping down the gulch and buried
the flume with dirt, rubbish and rocks to a depth varying from ten to
twenty feet. Mr. King at this time was engaged in business in Chicago,
and it was not until the summer of ‘78 that he could so arrange his
affairs as to give his personal attention to this extensive mining property.
He came out last summer, looked the ground over, and got everything in
readiness for operations this spring. Mr. King has accomplished this season
one of the largest jobs ever undertaken in Montana in placer mining.The
cleaning out of the old flume took up the most of the summer, a large
force of men working day and night. A clean-up of the flume was then made.
We are not informed of the amount of gold realized, yet we understand
the result was very satisfactory to Mr. King. The old flume was then taken
up, and a surveying party employed to run a new grade. In order to make
the flume as straight as possible, in a number of places it had to be
cut for some distance through the rim rock. And in order to make the flume
of uniform grade, an immense amount of gravel was used in filling the
cut of the old flume. The ‘fill’ varied from six to nine feet.
A sawmill, run by hydraulic power, was constructed to cut blocks, sills,
and smaller pieces of square timber required. For this purpose over 6,000
small trees were used. They were cut from about twenty acres of ground,
on the mountain side, over a thousand feet above the flume, and sent down
the mountain on a chute. A large number of skilled laborers were employed
in laying the sills and putting on the boards, the most of the work being
done in the water, making it a cold, disagreeable job. As the winter season
was fast approaching work was pushed as rapidly as possible, the men working
all the hours of daylight, and Mr. King had the satisfaction of seeing
the last of the necessary work completed before he left Diamond city last
week. Mr. K will leave Helena tomorrow for Chicago, where he will spend
the winter with his family and return to Montana next April.
BREVITIES
-Henry Haupt’s money drawer at the Hot Springs bar was robbed
of its contents on Monday last - about $14.
-$100 reward is offered for the proof of the death of John O’Donnell,
a baker by trade, who went to the Black Hills in October 1877. Address
A. Clarke, Newton, Jasper County, Iowa
MARRIED
-In Butte, November 16th, 1879, by Rev. J. R. Russell, at the residence
of the groom, Mr. W. G. Matthews and Miss Estella Hammond.
-In Bozeman, Monday, November 10th, 1879, Sol. R. Shrake to Hettie
A. Baswell, both of Gallatin county
BORN
-In Helena, November 18th, 1879, to the wife of Wm. McClatchey,
a daughter
-In Butte, November 17, 1879, to the wife of Mr. Reese Wampler,
a son
-At Red Bluff, Madison county, November 7th, 1879, to the wife of S.
W. Hurst, a daughter
-At Silver City, on November 12th, 1879, to the wife of W. T. Wilborn,
a daughter
-At Bozeman, November 11th, 1879, to the wife of Gen. Lester S. Wilson,
a son.
DIED
-In Jefferson Valley, Madison county, November 8th, 1879, John Mannheim,
aged 56 years
-At McHesser Creek, Madison county, November 12th, 1879, of cerebo spinal
meningitis, Mrs. R. Simpson.
-At East Gallatin, November 6, 1879, Alfred Barnett, about 30 years
of age.
LOCAL NEWS
From the Daily HERALD of November 13
VIRNOSCHE
A Statement From Bob West
Blacktail, M. T. Nov. 11, 1879
To the Editor of the HERALD
I noticed a statement in your issue of the 6th made by Virnosche
to a reporter of the INDEX while under arrest for shooting McAuly,
which I desire to contradict through your paper. I never did at any time
claim the ground that Virnosche and McAuley had the difficulty over in
which the latter was killed. Some time last March I built a house in the
mouth of Blacktail canyon and moved my family into it. Virnosche brought
suit against me for possession of the house and got a judgement against
me. I appealed the case to the Supreme Court and before we had another
hearing he (Virnosche) got a surveyor and run his lines and found that
I was not on his ground. He then withdrew the suit and paid the cost.
I have lived there ever since on the same place and have possession of
all I ever claimed, although Virnosche tried to run me off with his ax.
He said that he was done with civil law and that he would take the Texas
law. We have never had any trouble since. At the time he ran the lines
between us he also run them between McAuley and himself. Furthermore,
the ground on which McAuley was shot was his own according to the stakes
set by the surveyor at that time.
Respectfully,
Robert West
PERSONALS
-D.A.G. Flowerree and John Murphy returned home from the
Muscleshell last night
-Mr and Mrs O.J. Salisbury left by private conveyance yesterday
for Bozeman, and will be absent about ten days
-Mr Geo. Abbott, of the firm of E. Grissar & Co., San
Francisco, who has passed several days in Helena, takes his departure
Friday morning on his return to the Coast. Mr. Abbott is the active business
man and manager at headquarters, conducting probably the largest wool
business in America. We have met him at home and know something of his
many admirable qualities. We regret that his stay is so short. The branch
business of the house, we are pleased to know, is to become a permanent
fixture in Helena.
BREVITIES
-Messrs. DeWolfe and Chadwick are the attorneys who have been selected
by Butte to fight the city charter.-Bodie is infested with roughs and
desperate characters as well as Helena and Butte. A paper published in
that place says: At no time since this camp was started has there been
so many tough, hard characters in town as at the present time. They have
gradually drifted in from outside camps; unprosperous camps in Nevada,
and the cow counties of this State. Elaborate accounts of Bodie’s
prosperity and rapid growth have gone broadcast throughout the Coast,
and these vagrants -bunions on honest industry and thrift - have been
induced to come here.
NECESSITY OF VIGILANCE
COMMITTEES
The Butte MINER of the 13th says: When law is of so little consequence
that an old citizen can be brutally murdered by a pretended friend in
the heart of a populous city within five rods of a building crowded with
persons and the murderer allowed to escape; when five murders take place
in as many days in different parts of the Territory, when burglaries take
place nearly every night, then is it time to do away with all nonsensical
and foolish sentiment.
The MINER does not believe in Lynch law, but it does believe in the necessity
of Vigilance Committees at this very hour. The best citizens are enrolled
in them, a more intelligent class than is possible to be procured on our
juries. Let a fair trial be had, but when once a man is found guilty let
his punishment be speed and certain. As long as there are hopes of getting
clear by the plea of insanity, by escape from prison, by bribery of juries,
by pardon, so long will life in Montana be unsafe. Let the punishment
to the party convicted of guilt be sure and speedy, and there will be
less loss of life, less criminal cases involving the counties in debt,
more peace and order. ‘Let no guilty man escape.’
UNITED STATES VS.
GEO. W. FOX
Geo. W. Fox was arraigned yesterday afternoon upon the first of
the new indictments presented by the grand jury at this term and put upon
his trial on the six counts of the first indictment, all of which refer
to an item of entry charged to have been made by Fox in the books of the
Peoples National Bank of Helena, being an entry of a draft for something
over six thousand dollars sent to an Eastern bank, which entry, it is
charged in the indictment, was false, and made with intent to deceive
the examining officer of the United States, and other officers and persons.The
jury was impanneled and the case opened by counsel before the adjournment
of court last evening. The examination of witnesses began this morning
and the trial may continue several days. U. S. District Attorney Andrews
and W. F. Sanders are conducting the prosecution, and Warren
Toole, Judge Chumasero, W. F. Chadwick and Mr. DeWolfe
are the attorney for Fox. This is a very important case, and it is being
hotly contested on both sides.The following names gentlemen constitute
the jury: Wm. Davenport, John Bower, Henry Guthrie, J. Y. Johnson,
Paul Wydert, Richard Hoback, W. J. Bickett, C. L. Payne, James H. Halford,
James P. Porter, Mr. Goodman and Louis Stadler.
IN ST. LOUIS
Among other Montana celebrities met with in the States, Mr. Meyndorff
mentions Mr. E. G. Maclay, at St. Louis, whom we are glad to
learn is fast improving in health, with the promise of complete recovery
from his long season of illness. Medical treatment in his case is enjoined
for several months to come, but he expects the spring of 1880 will again
find him at his old place of business in Helena with all his powers for
work unimpaired. Of Mr. Ben. Stickney is also brought cheering
accounts. He is prosperous and happy as mine host of the famed Planters’
House - abiding place of every Montanian sojourning in the ‘Future
Great’ and the popular home of countless others from every part of
the universe transiently in St. Louis at all times of the year.
PERSONAL
-James King, of Diamond, is at the Cosmopolitan
-Dr. A. H. Mitchell, of Deer Lodge, arrived last night
-Len McCulloch arrived from Ft. Assinniboine yesterday
-John Keating, of Keatingville, is visiting in the city for a few
days
-Ed. McKean,
who has been dangerously ill in Butte for several weeks, is convalescing
-Mr. F. Bain, a thrifty stockgrower of Choteau county, arrived
from Benton last night en route to Bozeman
-W. G. Conrad and family arrived from Benton yesterday. They are
enroute East to visit friends and will remain until spring
-After an absence of nearly two months Mr. M. A. Meyendorff, United
States Melter of the Helena Assay Office, returned Thursday evening. In
the course of his tour through the States he took in many of the chief
cities, including Chicago, St. Louis, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
He reports a pleasant journey going and coming, and delightful visits
with old acquaintances met with at every stopping place in his route of
travel. Mr. Meyendorff looks and feels greatly improved by his brief leave-of-absence.
Welcome back.
MEAGHER COUNTY
ITEMS
(Husbandman, 13 inst)
-Simon Marks contracted for the delivery of 10,000 pounds of wheat
and oats at Len Lewis’ ranch, Smith river, at $1.65 per hundred pounds,
this week
-Mr and Mrs A. T. Linville, of Thompson gulch, came over last week
to spend the winter at their old Diamond home. It was their intention
to have
wintered at White Sulphur Springs, but were unable to rent a building.
-Hamilton & Stuart’s herd of cattle, which were driven
from Oregon, reached their range on the Sweet Grass last week. The herd
numbers 2,500 head and are a good lot of cattle. These gentlemen left
1,200 head in Idaho to winter.
-The Seiben Bros., of Chestnut, have dissolved partnership and
divided their herds and flocks. Henry is now the boss cattle man, and
Jacob and Leonard are among the heaviest wool growers, having added 5,000
to their already large flock this year. Mr and Mrs Leonard Seiben have
gone to their old home in Illinois.
BREVITIES
-A man named Boner was badly injured by a bucket falling on him
in the Algonquin mine, a few days ago
-A $2,800 clean up was made last week from 100 tons of the Park lode ore,
above Unionville, owned by Messrs Richards, Cullinen and Hays.
-Col. John Gibbon, at his own request, has been relieved from the
charge of the inspector-general’s office at department headquarters
in St. Paul, and Captain B. P. Hughes assumes the duties of that
office. The removal of Col. John Gibbon to Fort Snelling, necessitates
the change which has gone into effect by order of Gen. Terry. (St.
Paul PIONEER)
-There are opium dens in Butte where white boys, men and women congregate
for the purpose of stupefying themselves. If the city officials would
attend as closely to looking after such nuisances as to other matters
they might do as much good. San Francisco and other cities impose a fine
of $5.00 upon any person visiting those dens or encouraging them in any
way. (MINER)
PICTURE OF MONTANA
MINE
The site and surrounding of the Rocker Silver mine, Jefferson county,
are finely illustrated in a late number of the New York GRAPHIC. It is
the first Montana mine yet depicted in picture form in an illustrated
journal. The property itself is considered a valuable one.
PERSONAL
-Jesse Taylor came in from the Teton yesterday
Sam Hall returned home from the asylum yesterday and apparently
is well as ever
-Capt. D. H. Trufant, of Yamhill, will winter in Missoula county
with his old time friend Col. Baker
-J. R. Cox, one of the successful stockgrowers of Montana, arrived
yesterday from his Sun River valley plantation and started this morning
on the overland for the States. Mr. Cox goes directly to Missouri to visit
friends from whom he has been absent fourteen years. He will be absent
until next spring.
STRAYED
From Helena, in the latter part of July, a sorrel hose, six or seven years
old; white hind legs; white front foot; white strip in face; collar marks,
shod all around; branded P K on left shoulder, F R on left hip (In the
latter brand the points of the F, I believe, turn to the left) Any person
who will inform of the whereabouts of the horse will be suitably rewarded.
Geo. C. Berry, Centreville, M.T.
A. J. DAVIDSON,
Wholesale and Retail Dealer in and Manufacturer of HARNESS, SADDLES, etc.
Cash Paid for Hides, Furs and Wool. Holter’s Block, Main street,
Helena
B. M. DURELL & CO., Wholesale Grocers and dealers in WINES,
LIQUORS, TOBACCO AND CIGARS Glendale/Lion City, Montana
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